Residents in Downpatrick have used funding from our Community Cohesion Unit to piece together inspirational archived footage, showing how the community cared for one another.
A grant from the Housing Executive allowed Stream Street Residents Association to stage ‘Canon’s Excursion – Big Day Out’ in the Ballymote Centre, Downpatrick earlier this week. Attended by over 100 people, the event was held in partnership with Good Morning Down and the County Down Rural Community Network.
The film showcased archived 8mm footage from past “The Canon’s Excursion” events. Sourced from local residents and pieced together over the course of a year, it took locals on a trip down memory lane.
The Association hope that it will boost cross-community relations and promote Downpatrick as a safe and welcoming place to live.
The Canon’s Excursion was a regular occurrence in Downpatrick between the 1940s – 1970s. As part of the scheme, the community raised money to treat local children to a day out in Newcastle.
Dr Sean Brennan, our Good Relations Officer for the South Down area said that:
“We are pleased to support this project, with a view to encouraging people to become more active in the community, in the way that their parents and grandparents did.
"We hope that showing old footage of the Canon's Excursion will allow former neighbours to reconnect and share memories of their day trips to Newcastle. We also hope that it will promote good relations and community cohesion across Downpatrick.”
John Gordon, a member of Stream Street Residents Association, added: “The Canon’s Excursion – Big Day Out project allowed us to screen old footage, showing how previous generations engaged in The Canon’s Excursion events.
These community-funded occasions allowed local children from all backgrounds to enjoy a day out in Newcastle.
As well as inspiring our young people to engage in community cohesion activities, the footage has evoked fond memories for some of our older residents. We’re very grateful to the Housing Executive for supporting the scheme.”
Canon's Excursion Big Day Out
